Jennifer Elise: I’m so excited to talk to you!
10 Items or Less is one of my favorite shows on TV, it’s such a gem.
Oh you’re so sweet.
What about the show itself made you want to be a part of it?
The whole idea that it was improvised. I just jumped at the chance to be able to do a show like that. And I met with John Lehr and I thought he was so createive and cool. I just thought it was so different. It was very out of the box, very different. I just think that comedy needed to go somewhere different. The sitcom isn’t working anymore. He’s just so funny. He’s just so damn funny.
I know! Even his commercials that we see on TBS – 5 seconds of him, and it’s hilarious.
Hilarious. He’s so funny.
Since you improv, do you get like an outline to follow?
They give us pinpoints to hit, but we pretty much improvise the entire thing.
It’s amazing. It blows my mind, because it’s so funny. I don’t think I could ever be that funny at the drop of a hat.
How sweet are you?
What’s your favorite episode that you guys have done so far?
I think the one tonight is my favorite. It’s Amy Strikes Back. I just loved it because it’s really Emperor Strikes Back. It’s just hysterical. There’s a lot more action to it, than the other ones and I think that’s why I like it more.
Amy joins the Greens and Grains, right?
Yeah, so I get to be with them, which I love.
You’re the outside character that doesn’t get to interact all the time. It’s nice when you’re all together.
Yeah, yeah.
What else is coming up for Amy this season?
The following episode is Illegal Alien. I know that Amy is really pissed off because she finds out that one of the workers at the Greens and Grains is an illegal alien.
Is it a really funny set to work on?
It was such a funny set to work on. Everyone is so sweet, everyone was laughing all the time.
That would be my problem. I wouldn’t be able to get through a scene.
Yeah, you can’t get through a scene, it’s just too funny.
Do you think there’s hope for Leslie and Amy as a normal couple ( laughing)?
Yeah, I think there is! I mean, Leslie is the only one who really kind of likes Amy.
Why would you tell someone to tune in?
I think they should tune in, especially if you like a show like The Office, you’re going to love this show. Entertainment Weekly calls it a spazzier version of The Office. I love that. That’s really what it is. A spazzier version of The Office.
And it’s shot in a real grocery store, right?
Yeah, a real grocery store!
Are there customers while the shooting is going on?
Yeah sometimes they end up on screen, it’s so funny.
Who are some of your comedy inspirations?
I was completely inspired by Carol Burnett, growing up watching The Carol Burnett Show. People like Julia Louis Dreyfus, I think is amazing. There are so many funny women.
Is there anyone you’re dying to work with?
God, everybody. I’m dying to work with everybody. That’s such a good question. I’d love to work with Daniel Day Lewis, but I don’t think it’s going to happen [laughs]. Oh my god, I don’t think it’s going to happen. He’s amazing!
How did you get into acting, how did it all start for you?
It started when I was 4 years old. I told my mom that when I grow up I’m going straight to Hollywood, I’m going to be an actress. From there, I just kept acting and loving it. I always knew I wanted to do it. I started doing commercials.
Did your family always tell you that you were funny? Were you just a funny kid?
I was a funny kid; I was constantly putting on shows for everybody. I was always putting on shows in the living room.
What are some of your favorite TV shows and movies?
I love Nip/Tuck. That’s one of my favorite shows [Jennifer Elise guest starred on the flashforward episode last season as Annie in the future!]. My favorite movie of all time is Dr. Strangelove, I love that. I love old movies. I’m really into old movies. Breakfast at Tiffany’s is one of my favorites. And TV shows, I also like reality shows. I hate to say it, but I like really cheesy reality shows like I Love New York. I love show.
You can just put it on in the background, it’s easy to watch! [Jennifer laughs again] What else is coming up for you?
That’s it. It’s just times are less, with the writers’ strike, things were slow.
Thank God that’s finally over.
Yeah, it’s over, it’s done! Yay!
Is there anything else you wants fan to know, anything you think is interesting about you?
I think this is kind of an interesting thing about me. When I was struggling as an actress, a lot of times, I would make money playing cards [laughs], I think that’s kind of funny.
Would you ever do a celebrity reality show?
I would love, too! That’s kind of a career killer, though isn’t it? I think that’s kind of career suicide.
Put that in your back pocket until you really need it!
I know, yeah ha!
